Meridian, Mississippi
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Meridian is a city located in, and the county seat of, Lauderdale County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 39,968.
Contents |
City Government
Meridian is governed by a city council, headed by the Mayor, John Robert Smith.
- Current Council Members:
- George Thomas (Ward 1, Vice-President)
- Mary Perry (Ward 2)
- Barbara Henson (Ward 3)
- Jesse Palmer, Sr. (Ward 4, President)
- John Harris (Ward 5)
The Council Clerk is Pam McInnis.
- Judiciary Officials:
- Lester Williamson, City Court Judge
- Beauchamp Jones, Judge Pro Tempore
- Alfred Cory, City Prosecutor
- Amanda Rainey, Assistant Prosecutor
- Craig Conway, Public Defender
- Executive Officials:
- Bill Hammack, City Attorney
- Ken Storms, Chief Administrative Officer
- Ed Skipper, Finance and Records Director
- Monty Jackson, Public Works Director
- Mark Naylor, Parks and Recreation Director
- Don Farrar, Community Development Director
- Tim Miller, Fire Chief
- Benny Dubose, Police Chief
- H. C. Partridge, Homeland Security Director
Geography
Meridian is located at 32°22'29" North, 88°42'15" West (32.374841, -88.704160)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 118.8 km² (45.9 mi²). 116.9 km² (45.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.64% water.
Education
- Post-Secondary Institutions:
- High Schools:
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 39,968 people, 15,966 households, and 10,026 families residing in the city. The population density was 342.0/km² (885.9/mi²). There were 17,890 housing units at an average density of 153.1/km² (396.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.99% White, 54.37% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. 1.08% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 15,966 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 23.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 27.2% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,085, and the median income for a family was $31,062. Males had a median income of $29,404 versus $19,702 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,255. 28.6% of the population and 24.6% of families were below the poverty line. 40.8% of those under the age of 18 and 22.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Media and Publishing
Newspapers, Magazines, and Journals
- Meridian Star (published daily) [1]
- Memo Digest (weekly)
- East MS Business Journal (monthly) [2]
- Mississippi Business Journal Online [3]
Television
Radio
AM
- WFFX (1450 AM)
- WMER (1390 AM)
- WNBN (1290 AM)
- WMOX (1010 AM)
- WALT (910 AM)
FM
- WMLV (106.9 FM)
- WJXM (105.7 FM)
- WMMZ (102.1 FM)
- WJDQ (101.3 FM)
- WYKK (98.9 FM)
- WOKK (97.1 FM)
- WYYW (95.1 FM)
- WKZB (93.5 FM)
- WMAW-FM (88.1 FM)
Transportation
Railroads
Amtrak's Crescent train connects Meridian with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is located at 1901 Front Street.
Air Transportation
The town is served by Meridian Regional Airport to the southwest, located at Key Field, 2811 Airport Boulevard South.
Highways
Interstate Highways
- Interstate 20, runs west to Jackson, Mississippi and east to Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Interstate 59, joining with I-20 at Meridian, runs north to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and south to Laurel, Mississippi, and New Orleans.
U.S. Highways
- U.S. Highway 11 runs parallel to Interstate 59.
- U.S. Highway 45 runs north to Columbus, Mississippi and south to Quitman, Mississippi and Mobile, Alabama.
- U.S. Highway 80 runs west to Jackson and east to Demopolis, Alabama and Montgomery, Alabama.
State Highways
Sites of interest
Bonita Lakes is a city-owned, 3,300 acre (13 km²) park on three lakes with hiking trails, golf courses, and the future home of the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center, which is pending government legislature for funding.
The Causeyville General Store, opened in 1895, contains a gristmill and has been placed on National Register of Historic Places.
The Frank W. Williams Home, built in 1886, is a fine example of the Queen Anne style of residential architecture.
The city's Grand Opera House (MSU Riley Center for the Performing Arts) is remarkable for being preserved little changed from when it opened in 1890. It is currently undergoing a renovation that will transform it into a performing arts and conference center.
The Hamasa Shrine Temple Theater houses a 778-pipe organ, the equivalent of a 100-piece symphony orchestra, one of two organs of its kind known to exist. The Moorish Revival building was originally a movie house and now hosts live concerts, plays and stage events.
Highland Park houses a Jimmie Rodgers Museum, as well as a 19th-century carousel manufactured by Gustav Dentzel.
Merrehope is an historical home off of 8th street. General Lee resided here during the war, and is one of few homes that remained standing after the Civil War.
Key Field is the site of a record setting flight by brothers Fred and Al Key in 1935, and the home of Meridian's Aviation Museum.
Peavey Electronics maintains a museum, featuring memorabilia related to the company and many of the musicians using its equipment, open to the public on the northeast side of Meridian (the company maintains its headquarters in Meridian).
Bonita Lakes Mall [4].
Famous Meridianites
- Susan Akin, 1986 Miss America
- James Chaney, slain civil rights worker
- Alvin Childress, actor
- George Cummings, guitarist, songwriter
- Paul Davis, singer
- Steve Forbert, recording artist
- Greg Keyes, author
- Derrick McKey, professional basketball player
- Jimmie Rodgers, country music singer
- Fred Phelps, Founder of God Hates Fags and controversial minister, of the Westburough Baptist Church.
- David Ruffin, former lead singer of The Temptations
- Jimmy Ruffin, singer
- J. H. Rush, founder of Rush's Infirmary, the first private hospital in Meridian
- Sela Ward, actress
- Skeeter Webb, professional baseball player
- Diane Ladd, actress
- Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics Corporation (which remains headquartered in Meridian)
- Al Wilson, singer and drummer
- Oil Can Boyd, former Major League Pitcher
- G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery, U. S. Senator, and much of the town is named for him.
